Anti-tobacco flame back in Capital after a yr

The flame went through 10 countries in the region, returning to India after having travelled through Bangladesh, Nepal, Thailand, Bhutan, Indonesia, DPR Korea, Sri Lanka, Maldives and Myanmar. “The flame symbolised the region’s will to control tobacco consumption and to support the vulnerable sections — particularly the children, women and youth — from becoming victims to tobacco addiction,” said Dr Rafei.

Interestingly, the flame was carried using all possible modes of transport: on foot, by bicycles, cars, boats and airplanes. Street plays and cultural programmes, including floats and processions, were held to increase awareness, with youth in many countries taking an oath to refrain from tobacco use, informed Rafei.

Launched by WHO Director General Dr Gro Harlem Brundtland along with then Union Health Minister N.T. Shanmugam, Union Minister for Culture, Youth Affairs and Sports Ananth Kumar and Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dixit, the flame was used by the WHO as a vehicle to increase public awareness of the hazards of tobacco and build support for its international treaty called the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC).

As part of its global initiative to contain tobacco use, the WHO is giving special focus to the SEA region because after Africa, it is the most vulnerable to tobacco-related disease and mortality in the next two decades. WHO estimates that if current trends continue, the present 1.1 billion tobacco consumers will touch 1.64 billion by 2025, with most of the increase taking place in developing countries.

There will be a corresponding rise in mortality, up from the current four million deaths annually to 10 million in 2030. Again, 70 per cent of these deaths will take place in developing countries. There are 20 million tobacco consumers in India, with the country recording 8 lakh tobacco-related deaths every year.

The FCTC proposes to support its signatory countries’ efforts to contain the increase in consumption, especially among women and children. The protocols include banning all or certain categories of tobacco advertising and taking steps to stop cigarette smuggling. India is participating in the negotiations, which began in Geneva in October last year.